http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smashing_pumpkins
The band suffered a personal tragedy on the night of July 11, 1996, when touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin and Chamberlin overdosed on heroin in a hotel room in New York City. Melvoin died, and Chamberlin was arrested for drug possession. A few days later the band issued a statement notifying the public that Chamberlin had been fired as a result of the incident. Though the band finished the tour with another drummer and keyboardist, in retrospect Corgan called it the worst decision the band ever made, damaging themselves and their reputation in the long run. Meanwhile the band had given interviews since the release of Mellon Collie stating that it would be the last conventional Pumpkins record, and that rock was becoming stale. James Iha said at the end of 1996, "The future is in electronic music. It really seems boring just to play rock music."